Report R 167 Use of industrial by-products in road construction - water quality effects

Publication Year

1997

Document Status

Current

Abstract

The requirement for aggregates in the United Kingdom is forecast to increase, and it is widely believed that this demand will be difficult to meet in the long term. There are therefore obvious environmental, and possibly economic, benefits to be gained from using industrial by-products and reclaimed materials as aggregates in construction. However, concern over the potential of by-products to cause groundwater and surface water pollution has inhibited their uptake to date. This report examines whether industrial by-products and reclaimed materials used in road pavement foundations and earthworks are likely to cause contamination of groundwater and surface water. By-product materials that have been, or may be, used in road construction were subjected to laboratory tests. These tests provide a baseline appreciation of the materials' leaching behaviour and the possible consequences of using by-products in road construction in terms of their potential effect on water quality.

ISBN

9780860174752

Publisher Information